Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Thursday, 14 March 2013
Public Accounts Committee
2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 38 – Social Protection
Chapter 21 – Expenditure on Welfare and Employment Schemes
Chapter 22 – Welfare Overpayment Debts
Chapter 23 – Regularity of Social Welfare Payments
Social Insurance Fund – Annual Accounts 2011
11:15 am
Ms Niamh O'Donoghue:
If we can develop the power to attach debt which is off book - that is where people are not currently in receipt of payments - it gives us another tool and area for leverage. The 15% facility provides us with a whole new dimension for people who are currently in receipt of payments and have debt against them and in respect of any new overpayments that arise. We write off approximately €5 million per annum, which is not significant in terms of the overall amount of debt because our view is that we will pursue all debt.